Muslims follow a halal diet outlined in the Quran, which prohibits pork, meat from dead animals, amphibians, alcoholic beverages, and birds of prey. While fish caught alive from the sea are generally considered halal, there is debate over whether fish found already dead or without scales, such as eels, shrimp, and lobster, are permissible.
Halal seafood is considered permissible by Muslims as stated in the Quran. It is widely accepted that any fish that has scales and is caught alive from the sea is considered halal. Yet there are points of debate over other types of seafood and whether they are halal or haram.
Members of the Muslim religion adhere to a halal diet which is outlined in the Quran. The Quran states which foods are lawful or halal for Muslims and which foods are illegal or haram. In general, the Quran states that pork products, meat from animals found dead, amphibians, alcoholic beverages, and birds of prey are all haram and, therefore, prohibited. Any food that does not fall into these categories and has not been contaminated by any of these products is considered halal. Even halal meat must be slaughtered according to strict criteria.
There is some debate, however, about halal seafood. In general, fish is considered a legal food. The Koran does not prohibit its consumption and, in some cases, encourages it. The debate has ended over what kind of fish is allowed.
It is generally agreed that fish caught alive from the sea are halal seafood, but some believe that fish found already dead are also permissible. A story found in the Quran tells of lost travelers who discovered a beached whale. The travelers were starving so they decided to eat the meat even though it was already dead, which usually yields a food item. When the travelers consulted the Prophet, he declared that this food was a gift from Allah and was halal. Others disagree, as the Quran elsewhere states that consuming meat that hasn’t been butchered properly is haram.
While some scholars believe that all seafood is allowed, some argue that only fish with scales are considered halal seafood. Since it is agreed that amphibians are not a permitted food, some interpret this to mean that no creature capable of living both in and out of water is permitted. For example, crabs and turtles could be considered haram. True amphibians, such as frogs and salamanders, are almost always considered haram.
Another point of discussion involves fish without scales. It is generally accepted that all fish with scales are halal seafood. Yet some scholars believe that scaleless fish are haram. This includes eels, shrimp and lobster.
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